EP1108967A1 - A vibrating vacuum dryer and the related drying method - Google Patents

A vibrating vacuum dryer and the related drying method Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1108967A1
EP1108967A1 EP00830813A EP00830813A EP1108967A1 EP 1108967 A1 EP1108967 A1 EP 1108967A1 EP 00830813 A EP00830813 A EP 00830813A EP 00830813 A EP00830813 A EP 00830813A EP 1108967 A1 EP1108967 A1 EP 1108967A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vessel
product
container
granules
vacuum
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00830813A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Vittoriano Marcheschi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Zanchetta and C Srl
Original Assignee
Zanchetta and C Srl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Zanchetta and C Srl filed Critical Zanchetta and C Srl
Publication of EP1108967A1 publication Critical patent/EP1108967A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B17/00—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement
    • F26B17/26—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement with movement performed by reciprocating or oscillating conveyors propelling materials over stationary surfaces; with movement performed by reciprocating or oscillating shelves, sieves, or trays
    • F26B17/266—Machines or apparatus for drying materials in loose, plastic, or fluidised form, e.g. granules, staple fibres, with progressive movement with movement performed by reciprocating or oscillating conveyors propelling materials over stationary surfaces; with movement performed by reciprocating or oscillating shelves, sieves, or trays the materials to be dried being moved in a helical, spiral or circular path, e.g. vibrated helix
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B5/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat
    • F26B5/04—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum
    • F26B5/041—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum for drying flowable materials, e.g. suspensions, bulk goods, in a continuous operation, e.g. with locks or other air tight arrangements for charging/discharging
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B7/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes using a combination of processes not covered by a single one of groups F26B3/00 and F26B5/00

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for drying products in powder or granular form for pharmaceutical, alimentary, chemical or similar uses.
  • Conventional facilities for drying granular or powder products include static ovens having a plurality of shelves designed to accommodate trays on which the moist powder or granules deriving from a manufacturing process outside the oven are placed. The moisture is evaporated by hot air circulated inside the oven.
  • ovens of this kind are extremely simple and economical, the product to be dried has to be manually loaded into them and manually unloaded from them at the end of the drying process. During these operations, cross contamination between the treated product and the environment is possible. Loading and unloading operations also expose operators to contact with products, which, in the case of pharmaceuticals, have a high content of active ingredients, thus creating high risks of the operators themselves being intoxicated.
  • fluid bed dryers are used instead of static ovens to dry moist granules.
  • These dryers consist essentially of vessels housing a metallic grid or other shelf-like surface permeable to air, on which the product to be dried is placed. A flow of hot air is passed continuously over the grid in order to dry the granules. The drying times are much shorter than those of static ovens, thanks to the direct action of the air through and around the mass of granules.
  • these dryers also require large volumes of hot air and this has to be suitably filtered to reduce contamination of the outside environment. This is an especially serious problem when the product to be dried contains active ingredients, as in the case of pharmaceuticals, or toxic substances, as in the case of many chemicals.
  • Fluid beds may be either horizontal or vertical, but whatever direction they extend in, the volume of fluid that has to be delivered is so large that fluid beds are usually enormous structures.
  • a vertical fluid bed drier for example, may be as high as a four-storey building.
  • vacuum drying containers are also used.
  • the vacuum eliminates the problems created by the need for large volumes of hot air and the resulting open circuit conditions, and has the advantage of permitting much smaller filters to be used.
  • Vacuum drying facilities have also significantly reduced drying times in relation to drying temperature because, in a vacuum, the moisture in the granules to be dried evaporates at much lower temperatures compared to fluid bed dryers where the pressure is much higher.
  • the vacuum is also used for feeding the moist granular product by sucking it into the vessel where a heating device raises the temperature of the granules in order to dry them. Since heating normally occurs through conduction, by heating the walls of the vessel, for example, by circulating a heat transfer fluid in appropriate gaps made in the walls of the vessel itself, the granules have to be stirred so that all of them come into contact with the hot walls uniformly.
  • the stirring motion is usually performed by stirring blades fixed to a rotating shaft.
  • the disadvantage of the blades is that they may tend to grind and partly break up the moist granules.
  • the use of rotating parts in a vacuum environment requires the use of suitable rotary seals which involve considerable constructional complications.
  • the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages.
  • the present invention provides a device for drying products in powder or granular form comprising a vacuum container designed to hold a certain quantity of product, vacuum means for creating a vacuum inside the container, and means for heating the product, the device being characterised in that it comprises vibrating means for vibrating the product inside the container.
  • the present invention also relates to a method for drying products in powder or granular form.
  • the present invention therefore provides a method for drying products in powder or granular form characterised in that it comprises the steps of feeding the product into a sealed vacuum container, heating the product and vibrating the product.
  • the numeral 1 indicates as a whole a device for drying a product 2, in powder or granular form, inside a concave vessel 3, the bottom of which is connected to a vibrating box 4 that supports the vessel 3 itself.
  • the box 4 is vibrated by a vibrator 5 of known type, supported by a base 6.
  • the base 6 is connected to the floor through a plurality of vibration dampers 6a located at the bottom of the base 6 itself.
  • the vessel 3 is generally symmetrical about axis A and is housed in a sealed vacuum container 7 comprising an upper cover 8 and a lower casing 9.
  • the lower casing 9 is generally cylindrical in shape and is connected to a base 9a. From the cover 8 there extends a turret 10 that houses a plurality of filter bags 11 connected to a single duct 12 which is in turn connected to a pipe 13 leading to a vacuum pump 14.
  • the vessel 3 has a first inner wall 15 and a second outer wall 16 that form a gap 17 between them in which a heat transfer fluid 18 circulates.
  • the gap 17 is connected to two ends 19a and 19b of a fluid 18 circulation pipe 19.
  • the pipe 19 is also connected to a circulation pump 20 and to a unit 21 for heating the fluid 18. Both the pump 20 and the heating unit 21 are of well known type.
  • An elastic diaphragm 22 joins the top outer edge of the vessel 3 to the upper end of the container 7.
  • the diaphragm 22 divides the interior of the container 7 into an upper compartment 23 and a lower compartment 24 in such a way that the two compartments 23, 24 do not communicate.
  • a pipe 25 connects the lower compartment 24 to a corresponding vacuum pump 26.
  • outlet 27 that feeds the moist granular product 2 into the vessel 3.
  • the outlet 27 is at one end of a pipe 28 which has at it its other end a reservoir 29 where the granular product 2 collects.
  • a duct 30 for collecting the dried granules 2 is located at an upper, outfeed end 3a of the vessel 3 and receives the granules 2 feeding out of the vessel 3 itself.
  • the duct 30 communicates via a hose 31 with a pipe 32 that is connected to a storage chamber 33 for the dried granules 2.
  • a divert device 35 also located near the end 3a, directs the flow of dried granules 2 either towards the chute 34 for recirculation or towards the duct 30 for transfer to the storage chamber 33.
  • a control unit 36 for controlling the divert device 35 is located on the cover 8 and is connected to the divert device 35 through a connection 37.
  • the inner wall 15 of the vessel 3 has a ledge 38 that extends along the axis A following a path defined by a helix whose radius increases from the bottom up.
  • the cover 8 of the container 7 is also fitted with a device 39 for blowing a defined volume of air into the upper compartment 23.
  • Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the device according to the present invention. This embodiment differs from the device 1 just described, illustrated in Figure 1, in that the container 7 houses a helical vessel 40 consisting basically of a channel 41 wound in the shape of a helix around a tubular supporting column 42 extending lengthways along an axis B.
  • a helical vessel 40 consisting basically of a channel 41 wound in the shape of a helix around a tubular supporting column 42 extending lengthways along an axis B.
  • the helical vessel 40 as in the device described above with reference to Figure 1, is connected to the vibrating box 4.
  • a platform 4a being substantially circular in shape, is attached to the vessel 3 and the vibrating box 4 at the interface between them.
  • the platform 4a is elastically connected to the lower casing 9 of the container 7 by means of the diaphragm 22.
  • a duct 44 that collects the granules 2 feeding out of the vessel 40.
  • the duct 44 is connected to the inlet of a three-way divert valve 45, the two outlets of which are connected to the reservoir 33 where the dried granules 2 are stored and to the feed outlet 43 that recirculates the granules 2.
  • the vacuum pump 14 sucks air out of the upper compartment 23 of the sealed container 7 to create a vacuum inside the compartment 23 itself.
  • the air extracted from the compartment 23 is filtered by the filter bags 11 in the turret 10.
  • the pump 26 acts on the lower compartment 24 of the container 7 in the same way to create a vacuum in the compartment 24.
  • the pressure on both sides of the diaphragm 22 separating the two compartments 23 and 24 is substantially the same and the diaphragm is not subjected to deformation and keeps it elastic properties.
  • the elasticity of the diaphragm 22 is of fundamental importance since the diaphragm 22 connects the fixed container 7 to the vibrating vessel 3.
  • the moist granules 2 start moving up the helical ledge 38, thanks to the vibrating action and come into constant contact with the inner wall 15, heated by the heat transfer fluid 18.
  • the granules 2 are therefore heated by the inner wall 15 through conduction.
  • the heating causes the granules 2 to dry by evaporating the moisture in them.
  • the vacuum considerably reduces the temperature required to evaporate any substance and, therefore, evaporation in the container 7 takes place at a much lower temperature than it would if the container remained at atmospheric pressure.
  • the granules 2 dry much more quickly.
  • temperature-sensitive substances can be treated without being subjected to excessively high temperatures which might adversely affect them.
  • the vibrations drive the granules 2 being dried towards the top of the vessel 3.
  • the granules 2 move upwards along the helical path defined by the ledge 38 until they reach the upper outfeed end 3a. From the end 3a, the granules 2 fall, through the hose 31, into the duct 30 and, from there, through the pipe 32, into the storage chamber 33, from where they can be withdrawn for further processing as required.
  • the control unit 36 activates the divert device 35 which directs the granules 2 towards the chute 34 and, through this, back into the vessel 3. The granules 2 are thus recirculated so that they go through another drying cycle in the vessel 3.
  • a device of the known type such as a rotary or twin valve feeder, designed to enable the dried product 2 to pass from the container 7, which is under vacuum, to the storage chamber 33, where the pressure is higher. Indeed, to allow gravity feeding of the product 2, the pressure in the environment the product 2 is fed from must be the same as that it is fed to.
  • the moist granules 2 from the reservoir 29, are fed through the outlet 43 to the lower coil 41a of the helical channel 41 in the vessel 40.
  • the vibrating action applied to the vessel 40 by the vibrator 5 causes the granules 2 to move up the channel 41 as far as the top coil 41b. As they move along the path, the granules 2 are heated by contact with the walls of the channel 41 which have gaps 46 made along them.
  • the heat transfer fluid 18 is pumped through the gaps 46 by the pump 20, which is connected to the pipe 19.
  • the granules 2 When the granules 2 reach the top coil 41b, they drop into the duct 44 which communicates, downstream, with the divert valve 45.
  • the valve 45 directs the dried granules 2 either towards the storage chamber 33 or, if drying is incomplete, towards the feed outlet 43 from where the granules 2 are recirculated in the vessel 40.
  • valve 45 downstream of valve 45, on the pipe 32, there is a device of the known type (not illustrated) such as a rotary or twin valve feeder, designed to enable the dried product 2 to pass from the container 7, which is under vacuum, to the storage chamber 33, where the pressure is higher.
  • a device of the known type such as a rotary or twin valve feeder, designed to enable the dried product 2 to pass from the container 7, which is under vacuum, to the storage chamber 33, where the pressure is higher.
  • the heating of the granules 2 may be carried out using, as alternative to the heating unit 21, electricity, induction or a source of thermal radiation such as, for example, microwaves or infrared rays.
  • the device itself performs the step of granulating the products 2.
  • the product 2 is fed into the container 7 in powder form while binding substances are sprayed onto it, which combined with the vibrating action, turns the powder 2 into granules directly in the container 7.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
  • Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
EP00830813A 1999-12-15 2000-12-11 A vibrating vacuum dryer and the related drying method Withdrawn EP1108967A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT1999BO000680A IT1311426B1 (it) 1999-12-15 1999-12-15 Essiccatore vibrante sottovuoto e rispettivo metodo di essiccamento.
ITBO990680 1999-12-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1108967A1 true EP1108967A1 (en) 2001-06-20

Family

ID=11344409

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00830813A Withdrawn EP1108967A1 (en) 1999-12-15 2000-12-11 A vibrating vacuum dryer and the related drying method

Country Status (3)

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US (1) US20010047594A1 (it)
EP (1) EP1108967A1 (it)
IT (1) IT1311426B1 (it)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1803664A2 (de) * 2005-12-28 2007-07-04 Fette GmbH Vorrichtung zur Unterbrechung eines kontinuierlichen Produktstroms einer Rundläuferpresse
WO2007133435A2 (en) * 2006-05-10 2007-11-22 Eastman Chemical Company Use of a vibratory spiral elevator for crystallizing and/or drying of plastic pellets
CN100370205C (zh) * 2006-12-31 2008-02-20 山东东岳高分子材料有限公司 聚四氟乙烯分散树脂的干燥方法
WO2009083725A3 (en) * 2007-12-28 2009-10-29 Richard Holliday Combined heater and conveyor
CN102865723A (zh) * 2011-07-07 2013-01-09 江苏申久化纤有限公司 一种真空干燥装置及干燥方法
DE102006009258B4 (de) * 2005-03-14 2021-01-21 Smc Technology Srl Trocknungsmodul zur kontinuierlichen Wirbelschicht-Verdampfungstrocknung von Schüttgut oder Granulat sowie dieses Trocknungsmodul enthaltende Trocknungsanlage
RU223755U1 (ru) * 2023-11-28 2024-03-01 федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Мичуринский государственный аграрный университет" Вакуумная сушилка

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7908765B2 (en) * 2006-12-22 2011-03-22 Collette Nv Continuous granulating and drying apparatus
FR2942149B1 (fr) * 2009-02-13 2012-07-06 Camille Cie D Assistance Miniere Et Ind Procede et systeme de valorisation de materiaux et/ou produits par puissance pulsee
TW201627124A (zh) * 2014-09-16 2016-08-01 葛拉工業公司 用來乾化顆粒及其他材料之系統及方法
CN105783473B (zh) * 2016-04-26 2018-06-29 农业部南京农业机械化研究所 一种花生包衣翻转干燥装置

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1632180A (en) * 1926-07-13 1927-06-14 Sun Maid Raisin Growers Of Cal Apparatus for drying berries
GB1093449A (en) * 1964-05-13 1967-12-06 Pennsalt Chemicals Corp Method and apparatus for continuous freeze dryer
FR1571506A (it) * 1968-05-09 1969-06-20
US3456357A (en) * 1968-02-05 1969-07-22 Commercial Solvents Corp Process for continuous automated vibrational drying of explosives and apparatus
DE1729446A1 (de) * 1967-11-15 1971-06-09 Rothfos Jan Beernd Neues Verfahren eines kontinuierlichen Transportsystems innerhalb der Gefriertrocknung nach dem Prinzip des Bodenentzuges
US3742614A (en) * 1970-10-02 1973-07-03 Leybold Heraeus Verwaltung Thermal treatment of powdered or granular material
FR2600759A1 (fr) * 1986-06-30 1987-12-31 Electricite De France Four de traitement en continu de materiau pulverulent, granuleux ou pateux
DE3738704A1 (de) * 1987-11-14 1989-05-24 Phytec Physikalisch Tech Anlag Verfahren und anlage zur thermischen dekontaminierung von kontaminierter, ausgehobener bodenmasse
DE19829644C1 (de) * 1998-07-02 2000-04-20 Sorg Gmbh & Co Kg Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Vorwärmen und/oder Trocknen von glasbildendem Beschickungsgut für Glasschmelzöfen

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1632180A (en) * 1926-07-13 1927-06-14 Sun Maid Raisin Growers Of Cal Apparatus for drying berries
GB1093449A (en) * 1964-05-13 1967-12-06 Pennsalt Chemicals Corp Method and apparatus for continuous freeze dryer
DE1729446A1 (de) * 1967-11-15 1971-06-09 Rothfos Jan Beernd Neues Verfahren eines kontinuierlichen Transportsystems innerhalb der Gefriertrocknung nach dem Prinzip des Bodenentzuges
US3456357A (en) * 1968-02-05 1969-07-22 Commercial Solvents Corp Process for continuous automated vibrational drying of explosives and apparatus
FR1571506A (it) * 1968-05-09 1969-06-20
US3742614A (en) * 1970-10-02 1973-07-03 Leybold Heraeus Verwaltung Thermal treatment of powdered or granular material
FR2600759A1 (fr) * 1986-06-30 1987-12-31 Electricite De France Four de traitement en continu de materiau pulverulent, granuleux ou pateux
DE3738704A1 (de) * 1987-11-14 1989-05-24 Phytec Physikalisch Tech Anlag Verfahren und anlage zur thermischen dekontaminierung von kontaminierter, ausgehobener bodenmasse
DE19829644C1 (de) * 1998-07-02 2000-04-20 Sorg Gmbh & Co Kg Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Vorwärmen und/oder Trocknen von glasbildendem Beschickungsgut für Glasschmelzöfen

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
LENART C: "VIBROTOWER - DER SCHWINGENDE TURM FUER DIE VERFAHRENSTECHNIK. VIBROTOWER - THE VIBRATING TOWER FOR PROCESS ENGINEERING", AT - AUFBEREITUNGS TECHNIK - MINERAL PROCESSING,DE,AT VERLAG FUER AUFBEREITUNGS, WIESBADEN, vol. 39, no. 5, 1 May 1998 (1998-05-01), pages 221 - 225, XP000755729, ISSN: 1434-9302 *

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102006009258B4 (de) * 2005-03-14 2021-01-21 Smc Technology Srl Trocknungsmodul zur kontinuierlichen Wirbelschicht-Verdampfungstrocknung von Schüttgut oder Granulat sowie dieses Trocknungsmodul enthaltende Trocknungsanlage
EP1803664A2 (de) * 2005-12-28 2007-07-04 Fette GmbH Vorrichtung zur Unterbrechung eines kontinuierlichen Produktstroms einer Rundläuferpresse
EP1803664A3 (de) * 2005-12-28 2011-08-03 Fette GmbH Vorrichtung zur Unterbrechung eines kontinuierlichen Produktstroms einer Rundläuferpresse
WO2007133435A2 (en) * 2006-05-10 2007-11-22 Eastman Chemical Company Use of a vibratory spiral elevator for crystallizing and/or drying of plastic pellets
WO2007133435A3 (en) * 2006-05-10 2008-01-17 Eastman Chem Co Use of a vibratory spiral elevator for crystallizing and/or drying of plastic pellets
CN100370205C (zh) * 2006-12-31 2008-02-20 山东东岳高分子材料有限公司 聚四氟乙烯分散树脂的干燥方法
WO2009083725A3 (en) * 2007-12-28 2009-10-29 Richard Holliday Combined heater and conveyor
CN102865723A (zh) * 2011-07-07 2013-01-09 江苏申久化纤有限公司 一种真空干燥装置及干燥方法
CN102865723B (zh) * 2011-07-07 2015-09-16 江苏申久化纤有限公司 一种真空干燥装置的干燥方法
RU223755U1 (ru) * 2023-11-28 2024-03-01 федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Мичуринский государственный аграрный университет" Вакуумная сушилка

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITBO990680A0 (it) 1999-12-15
US20010047594A1 (en) 2001-12-06
IT1311426B1 (it) 2002-03-12
ITBO990680A1 (it) 2001-06-15

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